How to create a lead magnet: High-converting lead magnet ideas and examples.

I love free things. Who doesn’t?

Even if it’s something useless, the idea of something being free is always tempting.

What do you lose by grabbing a free sample at the grocery store?

Weight probably 😆

Worth it, though…

The worst thing that can happen is that you might have wasted a few minutes trying a bad cocktail.

But have you ever wondered why people bother with giving out free samples at all?

If you’re a smart cookie, you would already know that they are doing it to get you to try out their product or service and encourage you to buy it.

Either now or the next time you pass by.

They’re hoping the free samples are good enough to make you buy an entire bottle. Or pack. Or line.

Next thing you know, you’re so used to that product that it’s now a part of your regular grocery run.

There’s a way you can do the same to attract customers.

And that’s through lead magnets.

You offer a freebie (a free resource) to people who are interested in your brand in exchange for their contact details or a quick survey.

Even though creating the freebie takes up your time and money, it helps you build an email list of potential customers.

You can then keep in touch with them through newsletters, and promotions, or even use their opinions when coming up with new products, services, or promotions.

It’s a win-win!

In this article, we will talk about the benefits your brand can get from making lead magnets and the different types you can create to draw in your target audience.

Why you should create a lead magnet for your business

You might be thinking, “Is it really worth it to spend time and money on creating a free resource?”

Yes, it is. Lead magnets are more popular than you might think.

Do you remember the last time you filled out a form to get free presets, design assets, or access to an article?

Even if you don’t, you will be reminded when you start to receive email promotions and newsletters in your inbox.

You’ve been lured in by a lead magnet and now they know you are in the market for these items.

Here are some reasons why brands continue to create lead magnets:

Getting new leads to add to your email list

A well-crafted lead magnet encourages users to share their contact details.

It helps in building a robust email list of potential clients who are genuinely interested in your services.

All those people might have been browsing through your site and social media regularly but were just on the fence about whether to make a purchase or not.

This is what we call the warm audience in the middle of the sales funnel.

They already know your brand and probably believe in your service. They just need a bit of convincing to buy.

Now that you have their email address, you can create targeted email content that will convince them to finally make that purchase decision.

An effective lead magnet establishes authority

Offering valuable content for free positions your brand as an authority.

When users receive something useful, they’re more likely to trust your expertise and consider your paid services in the future.

Think about it: when you’re using free icons or typography from a design website, you are constantly reminded of the quality of their work.

Even if you don’t hear a promotion from them, you might remember them the next time you need icons or typography.

When you take a free email marketing course, you experience the expertise of the email marketing service and might consider paying for it instead of figuring out how to do it yourself.

A great lead magnet increases your conversion rate

Lead magnets are a stepping stone to converting leads into paying customers.

By providing a free trial of your services, you entice prospects to explore further.

After all, these people really took the time to fill out your form and download your resource. Most people are too busy.

They are already interested in your product or service and just need a bit of a push or a trial to make that decision.

The best lead magnets broaden your reach

Other than reaching your existing website visitors, lead magnets can also expand your brand’s reach.

You end up finding people who didn’t know your brand initially.

They might have stumbled upon you while searching for a resource or got it from someone who found your content valuable and shared it with their network.

When users find your content valuable, they are more likely to share it with their colleagues, increasing your visibility.

This word-of-mouth promotion can bring in more leads and enhance your brand’s presence in the market.

Different types of lead magnet ideas

Now that you know why you should create your lead magnet, let’s get to lead magnet examples and ideas.

Webinars and online workshops

Everyone is constantly trying to learn and grow in their profession (at least they do if they’re passionate and good at what they’re doing).

Hosting live webinars or online workshops allows you to engage directly with your audience, who wants to learn about your field.

If you’re too nervous to speak in front of a live audience or even face the camera, you can just pre-record videos with your voice-over narration on top of them.

This way, people can view it and learn at their own pace.

Ebooks

The term ebook can sound intimidating, especially if you aren’t an author.

But when you offer a free ebook, you are essentially just providing a free resource in the form of a PDF or EPUB file.

You can cover various aspects of your field.

For example, if we were to create an ebook related to design, we could talk about best practices, trends, or case studies.

You can provide survey results, analysis, or commentary.

It doesn’t even have to be wordy. People might not have the time to read.

Just make sure that your content is well-researched, visually appealing, and easy for your audience to digest.

Templates and checklists

When you’ve been working in your field for a while, some things are probably instinctive to you but foreign to anyone else.

You might have certain things you check for before getting started or you might be using a certain template (whether for design, writing, editing, budgeting, etc.) that helps you on a daily basis.

These tools can be appealing, especially for busy professionals and beginners.

You just have to make sure that your templates or checklists are easy to use and customize and you will have people signing up and thanking you for them.

Free design and digital marketing consultations

Offering free consultations is a great way to showcase your expertise and build relationships with potential clients.

During these sessions, you can get to know your audience, provide valuable insights, and offer actionable advice.

This personalized approach can significantly boost your chances of converting leads into clients.

Discount codes and promo offers

Everybody loves discounts!

Providing discount codes or special offers can incentivize users to try your services.

Unlike the previous examples, this form of lead generation can potentially raise your profits too.

You just have to make sure the discount is substantial enough to attract attention from your audience while still allowing you to maintain your profit margins.

You get a profit plus their contact information and they get a discount.

To make this extra effective, it helps to make these offers time-limited to create a sense of urgency.

Free resources and design libraries

If you’re in the business of creating assets, you can offer a collection of valuable resources, such as fonts, icons, or stock photos, to attract a wide audience.

This doesn’t even have to be as time-consuming.

You can collect a bunch of your existing assets that would usually be part of a larger paid collection and package them together for free.

Ensure your library is easy to navigate and regularly updated with fresh content.

This ongoing value can keep users engaged with your brand over the long term.

Quizzes and assessments

If you’re offering a service, quizzes and assessments are engaging lead magnets.

You can create a fun and insightful quiz that helps users understand their preferences or needs.

Provide personalized recommendations based on their results, guiding them toward your services.

This doesn’t even need to consume much of your time; you can include existing questions you ask during discovery calls, packaged in a fun and engaging way.

Where should you promote your lead magnet?

Now that you know what potential lead magnets you can create, let’s get to where you should promote them.

Insert it into your social media channels

The most convenient way to promote your lead magnet is through your existing social media channels.

With eye-catching graphics and persuasive captions, you can encourage people to fill out a form that leads to a free download upon submission.

Social media platforms also allow you to run paid ads so you can reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your lead magnet.

Create a landing page for your lead magnet

If you have an existing website, you can create a dedicated landing page for your lead magnet with a clear and compelling call-to-action (CTA).

Use engaging visuals and concise copy to convey the value of your offer.

Ensure the sign-up form is simple and easy to complete.

Send out your lead magnet through your email list

If you have an existing email list, you can still send them your lead magnet.

You are providing them with something valuable and they might even share it with friends if it’s interesting enough.

Make sure to create personalized and engaging emails that highlight the benefits of your offer.

Include a clear CTA and a link to your landing page.

Collaborate with other influencers and brands

Partnering with influencers in your industry is the best way to exponentially amplify your reach.

Find influencers who align with your brand values and have a relevant audience.

Provide them with exclusive access to your lead magnet (preferably a discount code or a free asset) and encourage them to share it with their followers.

Use lead magnets to generate leads for your brand

Creating effective lead magnets is a powerful strategy for attracting high-quality leads and converting them into paying customers.

By offering valuable content that addresses your audience’s needs, you can build trust, establish authority, and enhance brand awareness.

Implementing and promoting your lead magnet effectively will help you maximize its potential and drive growth for your creative design agency.

Remember, the key to a successful lead magnet is providing genuine value.

Always put your audience’s needs first and focus on delivering content that helps them solve their problems or achieve their goals.

With the right approach, lead magnets can be a game-changer for your business, opening doors to new opportunities and fostering long-term client relationships.

Looking for more information about lead magnets?

Check out these guides:

➡️5 steps to make a successful lead magnet design and campaign

➡️5 tips to get more downloads of your lead magnet

➡️15 lead magnet suggestions for your web design firm

Do you need help with designing an attention-grabbing lead magnet? Let Deer Designer handle it for you!

Just send us a design request and we’ll design all the lead magnets you need.

Book a client-fit call today.

Key takeaways

• Lead magnets are the free samples that brands offer to attract potential customers online. You trade a free asset for potential high-quality leads.
• The leads generated from lead magnets are more likely to convert into customers, as they are already interested in your company enough for them to sign up and provide their information.
• You also get to establish your expertise in your field by offering free assets that are useful to you and the people around you.
• Through lead magnets, you get to offer hesitant visitors a free taste of your products and services.
• There are various types of lead magnets you can offer, like ebooks, templates, workshops, consultations, quizzes and assessments, and discount codes.
• You can promote your lead magnets on your social media channels, website, existing email list, and influencer partners.